Cover for portable sanitary unit

ABSTRACT

Presented is a cover for a portable sanitary unit, with the cover providing protection, decoration, advertising space, and the option of color and theme selection for the owners or user of the portable sanitary unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority date of the provisional application entitled COVER FOR PORTABLE SANITARY UNIT filed by James McLaughlin on Mar. 3, 2006 with application Ser. No. 60/779,016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is generally related to portable sanitary units, and more specifically to a device for covering a portable sanitary unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the typical use of these sanitary units there is an opportunity for increased use of the popularity and visibility of these units. In an event such as an event in a park or at a concert venue or in a picnic area, the sanitation units are readily visible by a number of people, and virtually everyone at an event is likely to use the sanitation units at one time or another during an event. They may also have the pleasure in standing in line to use such device. An opportunity is presented by the highly visible nature of these units, the fact that everyone in the vicinity visits one of these units, and they may be standing in line waiting to use these units. The opportunity is presented in the form of available advertising space. Several problems of the units can also be incorporated into the solution that provides advertising space. The units can be hot as they sit in the sun, and a way to reflect or block some heat from the sun would be desirable. The units are typically ugly, and a device which can utilize their presence and make them actually attractive or pleasant looking would also be a benefit. If these functions are accomplished while providing an opportunity for advertisers to get their message to possible customers, then that device would greatly enhance the utility of the sanitation unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Portable sanitary units of many sizes and configurations are present when any kind of a temporary or portable sanitation need is required. These are typically plastic or fiberglass units which are four-sided, have a roof panel or a peaked roof, and have a door on hinges. They also have one or more toilet seats inside the unit, a reservoir of chemicals and a reservoir for collecting sewage until it can be pumped. These units come in many different sizes, colors and configurations. They also have one thing in common: they are ugly. Or to be more politically correct, they are esthetically challenged.

These units are typically of a utilitarian color such as green or gray. They are also of utilitarian appearance, without any particular attempt to make the units attractive. They are primarily configured for ease of construction and ease of transport. They are typically rectangular, but can also be cylindrical or other shapes.

These and other objects are accomplished by the device of the present invention. The device of the present invention can be an after market add-on to portable sanitary units, or it can be sold as an accessory when a person purchases the portable sanitary unit or they can be rented to the party planning an event and who needs to use portable sanitary units. They can also be used to sell advertising to sponsors of an event or to advertisers who wish to place a message where people can read about a product or service.

The present invention is a device that can add significantly to the appearance, as well as to the function of portable sanitary units. The invention is a cover for portable sanitary units which can be made of a flexible fabric and draped over the portable sanitary unit. The cover would typically have a roof panel and 3 side panels. A fourth wall panel and a door panel would be optional features, and could be configured for attachment to the side panels, or could be separate from the cover body and could be attached to the door of the sanitary unit.

The cover for the sanitary unit could come in a variety of styles for different purposes of the user. A cover for sanitary units which are placed in areas where heat is a problem could be covered with a reflective surface to reduce the heat build-up in the unit. The covers could also be configured with different colors for different users. One user might prefer a conspicuous color so that the sanitary units could be easily found. This could mean colors such as red, orange or yellow. Other users might prefer a less conspicuous color and might choose blue or green or camouflage. A particular user might choose a color based on the colors of a sporting team, or on the color of a company's logo or letterhead. Some covers might be configured for themes such as a party theme, an old west theme, a cartoon theme, a team colors theme, or other designs which make the portable sanitary unit appear more attractive and less industrial. The cover body can have utility openings in it which correspond with openings in the portable sanitary unit for such items as screened windows, air vents, plumbing connections, lifting handles, door handles, or other features which benefit from having an opening in the cover.

The covers can also be configured to display advertising material of a user. For instance, if a concert is being sponsored by a company, the cover for the portable sanitary unit could correspond to advertising material or logos of the company or venue. They could also include text and graphics related to the theme, such as Shakespeare, IBM, or to governmental entities such as City of Boise. The cover provides a surface on which other graphics, advertising or information can be displayed, including maps of the event, maps of the city subway system, maps of city bus routes, maps of a fairground, or other information which is beneficial to display to users of the sanitary facilities.

The roof panel of the cover can be configured to extend beyond the edge of the portable sanitary unit, and provide some shade to the unit and to an area adjacent to the unit. The roof panel can also be configured to be a reflectant to reduce the heat load on the unit. The roof panel can also be configured to include solar charging cells and to provide power to the portable sanitary unit for operation of fans or lights.

The invention is a cover to be placed on portable sanitation units. The cover can serve as advertising space for renters or users of the portable sanitation unit, and can also have such features as colors and graphics to suit the owner's preference, graphics to fit a theme selected by the user, team or school colors and logo; public service information such as maps of an event, a park, a bus system, a subway system or a city, or other useful graphics. The covers provide insulation for the sanitation units, and keep the units cooler in the summer by reflecting sunlight and providing insulation and shade.

The purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the public, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

Still other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description describing preferred embodiments of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive in nature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. is a perspective view of the sanitary unit cover of the invention.

FIG. 2. is a side view of one version of the sanitary unit cover of the invention.

FIG. 3. is a side view of one version of the sanitary unit cover of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

In the following description and in the figures, like elements are identified with like reference numerals. The use of “or” indicates a non-exclusive alternative without limitation unless otherwise noted. The use of “including” means “including, but not limited to,” unless otherwise noted.

FIG. 1 shows a version of the portable sanitation unit cover of the invention. The device is designated as numeral X and as seen in FIG. 1 is a cover which can be draped over a prior art portable sanitation unit 42. The portable sanitation unit cover 10 includes a cover body 12 which includes wall panels 14, one or more roof panels 16, and optionally a door panel 18 and a fourth wall panel 44. The fourth wall panel 44 and the door panel 18 are optional. The door panel 18 may be affixed to the door 46 of the prior art sanitation unit 42. The cover 10 includes an attachment means 20. The attachment means 20 can take a number of configurations depending on the preference of the owner of the cover 10. Shown are Velcro strips 22 which form one version of an attachment scheme. Velcro strips 22 would be placed along the walls of the sanitation unit 42, and would interact with corresponding Velcro strips attached or built into the portable sanitation unit cover 10. In this way, the cover could be slid into place and affixed to the sanitation unit using Velcro. Another optional way is the use of snaps 24 which are shown attached to the prior art sanitation unit, and would correspond to snaps 24 on the inside of the walls of the sanitation unit cover 10. Another optional attachment means is by the use of magnets 26 which are shown attached to the walls 48 of the sanitation unit 42. The magnets 26 would typically be glued or otherwise affixed to the walls 48 of the sanitation unit 42. The magnets on the sanitation unit correspond to magnet 26 which are attached to or built in to the panels of the cover 10. The roof panel 16 of the cover or one or more of the wall panels 14 of the cover can be made of a reflective material which will reflect heat from the sun and keep the prior art, sanitation units 42, cooler than they would otherwise be. Shown in FIG. 1 is an attached ad 30 which may be affixed to the wall 14 of the cover 10, and may be easily removed for changing the ad content. Another style of placing ads using the cover of the invention is shown on the door panel 18, which displays a printed ad 32 which is printed on to the material of the cover and is permanent.

Door panel 18 includes a utility opening 34 which in the instance shown is to allow a user of the facility to use the handle 50 of the sanitation unit 42. Other utility openings would be made available depending on the specific requirements of a particular sanitation unit 42. For instance, utility openings can be made available for events, air intakes, pumping and flushing connections, windows, screens, and connections for refilling chemicals held in tanks inside the sanitation unit 42. Besides the advertising material, which is shown in FIG. 1, the sanitation unit cover 10 of the invention can be used to enhance the utility of the sanitation unit 42 by changing its color, such as to make it bright and visible, or subdued and inconspicuous. For a particular event, an event planner may prefer units in camouflage coloring, team colors and logo, bright colors for greater visibility, or subdued colors so that the sanitation units are inconspicuous. FIG. 2 shows a possible graphic on the side of one of the covers 10 of the invention which is a subway map of a metropolitan area. FIG. 3 shows a graphic for a specific event, and illustrates that graphics for an event, a company, a school or graphics advertising businesses or providing other information to the unit users could be placed on the side wall 14 of the cover 10.

While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto, but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 

1. A cover for a portable sanitary unit, said sanitary unit being a self contained restroom for an individual, with sidewalls, a door, and a roof, said cover comprising: a cover body for placement over a portable sanitary unit configured to substantially obscure said portable sanitary unit, with said cover body having a color and design style selected by a user to enhance the appearance of said portable sanitary unit.
 2. The cover for a portable sanitary unit of claim 1 which further includes a means of attachment for securing said cover to said sanitary unit.
 3. The cover for a portable sanitary unit of claim 1 in which said cover body is made of a generally flexible material which can be draped over said portable sanitary unit.
 4. The cover for a portable sanitary unit of claim 1 in which said cover body is comprised of three side panels and a roof panel, and is configured for placement over a generally rectangular portable sanitary unit.
 5. The cover for a portable sanitary unit of claim 4 which further includes a fourth panel which covers the wall and door of the sanitary unit, with a wall portion which is secured to the wall around the door of the sanitary unit, and a door panel for attachment to the door of said portable sanitary.
 6. The cover for a portable sanitary unit of claim 4 which further includes a door panel for attachment to a door of said portable sanitary unit.
 7. The cover for a portable sanitary unit of claim 4 in which said door panel is hingedly attached to the cover body.
 8. The cover for a portable sanitary unit of claim 4 in which said door panel is detached from the cover body, and attached to the portable sanitary unit door.
 9. The cover for a portable sanitary unit of claim 1 which is configured to display advertising material to users of said portable sanitary unit.
 10. The cover for a portable sanitary unit of claim 8 which is configured to display advertising using text and/or graphics printed on the fabric of the cover material.
 11. The cover for a portable sanitary unit of claim 8 which further includes a means for attachment of advertising material to the cover body.
 12. The cover for a portable sanitary unit of claim 1 in which said cover body defines one or more utility openings for windows, vents, plumbing connections, handles, or doors.
 13. The cover for a portable sanitary unit of claim 1 in which the cover body is configurable for a theme selected by the user.
 14. The cover for a portable sanitary unit of claim 1 in which the roof panel extends beyond the walls of the portable sanitary unit and provides shade and sun protection for the portable sanitary unit.
 15. The cover for a portable sanitary unit of claim 13 which further comprises a shade panel for providing shade and sun protection to an area adjacent to the portable sanitary unit.
 16. The cover for a portable sanitary unit of claim 1 in which at least one roof or wall panel includes reflective material for reducing the heat load of the portable sanitary unit.
 17. The cover for a portable sanitary unit of claim 1 which further includes a solar cell for providing power to the portable sanitary unit for powering fans and or lights. 